Thirty years after her death in March 1982, Ayn Rand's political ideas have proven both prescient and insidious, warns journalist Gary Weiss, who suggests that unfettered capitalism, unregulated business, the abolition of social services, and disdain for Judeo-Christian morality are the central tenets of Rand's philosophy. Charting the Russian-born novelist's infiltration of the Tea Party and Libertarian movements, as well as the mainstream Republican Party, Weiss encounters individuals from across the political spectrum, from Glenn Beck to Oliver Stone, and includes Rand's most influential disciple, Alan Greenspan.

"Gary Weiss brings his skeptical bent and sharp writing to a character who has inspired both fanatical belief and deep derision for decades…. Rand is ultimately quite a bit more complicated than either her fans or her detractors would have it."—Bethany McLean